Will Tang

Born in 1972 in Rochdale, Lancashire, England, Tang first handled trumpet duties within his school orchestra yet dismissed any notion of pursuing music professionally until the early 1990s, when harmonica became his initial instrument. Guitar soon followed, allowing him to craft an unmistakable, grounded vocal style suited to a body of contemporary urban blues material shaped by artists spanning blues, rock and pop. Late in the 1980s he set out on a journey intended to circle the globe, only to settle in Hong Kong upon arrival and immerse himself in that city’s blues club circuit while providing support for recording acts that included Jacky Cheung, Jacky Chan, Sandy Lam and Andy Lau. Further tours across Far East territories broadened his profile, although the reach of his English-language singing remained constrained. Local Hong Kong releases during this period encompassed the 1996 album Movin’ On together with the two 1999 sets Blues Movies and Out Of The Blue.

After resettling in the UK and reconnecting with the northern blues club circuit, Tang built a dedicated audience; alongside Manchester-based DJ Andy Votel he issued the single ‘Love Bites,’ widening his exposure. Since that return he has operated his own Zen Music imprint, and the subsequent recordings have featured numerous original compositions.